So, I have no hopes of keeping up with other money saving blogs, or my thrifty friend Dorcas, but thought I would post about my own "bargains" and buys on here, so I can keep track of where Ive been and what Ive saved this year. And hopefully, look back and see how much better I have gotten at this. Most of my shopping will be with a 3 year old, and a 3 month old, and sometimes, but hopefully not often, a 4 1/2 year old. My son is not a great shopper, so hopefully I can do the majority of it while he is at preschool. Alexis does pretty well, as long as she is walking alongside, which does slow the train down a bit. Alana does well in her seat, sleeping thru a lot of it, which Im sure will change as she gets older...

I have only done a few transactions at CVS so far, in December, and I did one shopping trip to Walmart where i scanned my coupons. Nothing super great, I did save $16 with coupons at Walmart tho, which is wonderful, but I didnt end up paying .57$ for my cart full of groceries. Any penny saved tho makes me smile, and it was so rewarding to watch those dollars and cents come back off at the end.

So today, made a trip into town while Blake was in school. First stop, CVS. I went in yesterday and bought a few things. I only had $2 EB and then a $5.50 EB from the last quarter, so my dear friend Dorcas helped me work out the best way to spend the least OOP. I got all my things and went to the checkout, the cashier rang me up, I handed her my coupons, forgetting to hand her the $5 off $20 untill she was half done. Man!! after we had it all figured out! I had to do some quick thinking, which is not something Im great at, unfortanetly, all the while Lexi was trying to show me candy and movies from the racks. I ended up doing 3 transactions, spending a total of $ 11.53, and getting back $19 in EB, with a mail in rebate for the glucose meter which is supposed to be for the sale price, so $14.99 if Im lucky. Or $4.99, either way it is free!! So tickled with my goodies, the Oust I had a buy one get one free coupon, and got $3 EB on each one. So I spend $3.99 for 2 of them, got $6 EB, making $2! Soybars were $6, with a $6 EB so free.


Today we made a quick run back into CVS, as it was right on our way to Target, and bought 2 more Oust with the B1G1 free coupon, and also Soybars, using my EB from the glucose meter ($10). Spent $.54 OOP, and got back $12 in EB. So now Im up to $21. This is so fun!





Next stop was Target, where I picked up the 2 axe body was for $5 a piece, used 2 $1 off coupons, and then got back a $5 Target gift card. Spent $8.25 got back $5. I then used that $5 giftcard for my next purchase. Nut clusters with a $1.50 off coupon, 2 Juicy Juices (used 2 $1 off Target coupons, and $1 off 2 manufacturer coupon. They were on sale for $2 a piece, the shelf was empty, but when I asked, they went back and pulled some more out. I also bought a battery for my scale, wasnt on sale, but I needed it @ $4.14. Used the gift card and spent OOP $1.29. Would have done a lot better without the battery =( but oh well.



Then off to Harris Teeter. The girl are doing well, Alana fussed a bit in CVS, but fell back asleep thankfully. Lexi is excited for the balloon that I told her she got at the end of our Harris Teeter trip. Did all my shopping, got a few things that I didnt have coupons on but were on sale, that I knew we would need, lettuce, strawberries (BIGI free, only bought one and still got the sale price) and eggs. 3 packages of chicken, it was BIG2 free!! so I got 3 of them and put them in the freezer. Got to the checkout, she rang all my purchases up and I handed her my coupons. It was double coupons up to $1.98, and all my coupons were at least a $1. I spent $43.25 total! Coupons tendered were $82.84! and the Harris Teeter things I purchased that were already on sale before coupons, I saved $47.30, if I understand my reciept. I was so proud of my goodies, I couldnt wait to show Anthony when I got home. I layed them all out on the table, and asked him how much he thought it was worth. It did take a long time to get all the coupons together, but hopefully I will get better and faster at this, and it was so rewarding to watch the money come off. The sale is running until the 12th, so I think I will make another trip in there next week, and see if I can do even better.

3 packages of chicken, 4 packages of Kraft cheese, 4 packages of french fries/tater tots/hashbrowns, 4 boxes of Special K bars, 2 Stayfree pads, 3 Tonys pizzas, 3 Rice a Ronis, eggs, lettuce, strawberries, Frozen veggies, Doritos, Lays chips, floss, aspirin, Lipsmackers chapstick ( not pictured as it is in Lexis little clutches) Cocoa puffs, Uncle Bens rice...Im not sure if that is all or not, but you get the idea.
Also picked up a free roast beef sandwich from Arbys on the way home, had a coupon with any drink purchase, and a free taco for Anthony. I think I love coupons!